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Still Alice: Lisa Genova Paperback – 26 Feb. 2015
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Alice Howland is proud of the life she worked so hard to build. At fifty, she's a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard and a renowned expert in linguistics, with a successful husband and three grown children. When she begins to grow forgetful and disoriented, she dismisses it for as long as she can until a tragic diagnosis changes her life - and her relationship with her family and the world around her - for ever.
Unable to care for herself, Alice struggles to find meaning and purpose as her concept of self gradually slips away. But Alice is a remarkable woman, and her family learn more about her and each other in their quest to hold on to the Alice they know. Her memory hanging by a frayed thread, she is living in the moment, living for each day. But she is still Alice.
- Print length384 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
- Publication date26 Feb. 2015
- Dimensions19.4 x 13 x 2.8 cm
- ISBN-101471140822
- ISBN-13978-1471140822
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- And while a bald head and a looped ribbon were seen as badges of courage and hope, her reluctant vocabulary and vanishing memories advertised mental instability and impending insanity. Those with cancer could expect to be supported by their community. Alice expected to be outcast. Even the well-intentioned and educated tended to keep a fearful distance from the mentally ill.Highlighted by 188 Kindle readers
- But I am not what I say or what I do or what I remember. I am fundamentally more than that.Highlighted by 184 Kindle readers
- When will I no longer be me? Is the part of my brain that’s responsible for my unique ‘meness’ vulnerable to this disease? Or is my identity something that transcends neurons, proteins, and defective molecules of DNA? Is my soul and spirit immune to the ravages of Alzheimer’s? I believe it is.Highlighted by 156 Kindle readers
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Review
'The most accurate account of what it feels like to be inside the mind of an Alzheimer's patient I've ever read. Beautifully written and very illuminating' Rosie Boycot
'Utterly brilliant' Chrissy Iley
'A crisp, straightforward and wrenching depiction' -- New Yorker
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster UK; Film Tie-In edition (26 Feb. 2015)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 384 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1471140822
- ISBN-13 : 978-1471140822
- Dimensions : 19.4 x 13 x 2.8 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 239,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 1,045 in Erotic Romance (Books)
- 1,713 in Film & Television Tie-In
- 2,420 in Legal Thrillers (Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the author

Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude from Bates College with a degree in Biopsychology and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University.
Acclaimed as the Oliver Sacks of fiction and the Michael Crichton of brain science, Lisa has captured a special place in contemporary fiction, writing stories that are equally inspired by neurological conditions and our shared human condition. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels STILL ALICE, LEFT NEGLECTED, LOVE ANTHONY, INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, and EVERY NOTE PLAYED.
Her first work of nonfiction, REMEMBER: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting, published March 2021, became an instant New York Times bestseller.
STILL ALICE was adapted into a film starring Julianne Moore, Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, Kate Bosworth and
Hunter Parrish. Julianne Moore won the 2015 Best Actress Oscar for her role as Alice Howland. Film adaptations for INSIDE THE O'BRIENS, EVERY NOTE PLAYED, and LEFT NEGLECTED are in development.
STILL ALICE was adapted for the stage by Christine Mary Dunford and premiered at the Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago in April 2013. It has since toured worldwide.
In 2015, Lisa was named one of the U.S. Top 50 Influencers in Aging by Next Avenue. She has appeared on Live with Kelly &Ryan, the TODAY show, CNN, PBS Newshour, Dr. Oz, and NPR and has been featured in the PBS specials Build a Better Memory Through Science and Supercharge Your Brain, as well as the documentary films To Not Fade Away and Have You Heard About Greg.
Her first TED talk, "What You Can Do To Prevent Alzheimer's" has been viewed over eight million times. Her most recent TED talk, "How Memory Works--and Why Forgetting is Totally OK" was the sixth most watched TED talk of 2021. A sought-after speaker/edutainer, she has headlined in speaker series alongside Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Gloria Steinem, Jay Leno, Malala Yousafzai, and Goldie Hawn.
She received The Pell Center Prize for Story in the Public Square, for "distinguished storytelling that has enriched the public dialogue," The Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award, The Global Genes RARE Champions of Hope Award, and The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Media Award for "informing the public about treatment and ongoing research in medical illness."
She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bates College, The Alzheimer's Association's Rita Hayworth Award, The Huntington’s Disease Society of America Community Awareness Award, and the Grubby Award for literary excellence.
She serves on the Advisory Boards for The Women's Alzheimer's Movement, HFC (Hilarity for Charity), and Compassionate Care ALS.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings, help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the insightful and informative narrative that provides an accurate depiction of dementia. The writing style is described as descriptive and easy to read. Many readers find the emotional content moving and heartbreaking, describing it as sensitive without being sentimental. The story pace is described as moving and honest, giving a sense of authenticity to the book. Overall, customers describe the book as realistic and well-researched.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and well-crafted. They describe it as a must-read for anyone interested in dementia. The story is described as powerful and well-illustrated.
"...All in all, Still Alice is well worth a read – as a good story, as a book that will make you both laugh and cry and as a challenging insight into..." Read more
"...It's a great book because it tackles Alzheimer's disease from the point of view of the sufferer...." Read more
"...This is a very well written novel with a lot of research to make it feel very real...." Read more
"...Rather it is a well thought out novel which puts across a number of complex neurological ideas easily. I can't recommend it too highly." Read more
Customers find the book thought-provoking and informative. They say it provides a unique perspective on dementia from Alice's perspective. The story is well-researched and paints a vivid picture of the illness. Readers find it convincing and absorbing.
"...on her changing voice – at first, she has the precision of a University Psychology Professor but later on, words are generic and places become vague...." Read more
"...It's a great book because it tackles Alzheimer's disease from the point of view of the sufferer...." Read more
"...Much of the book is thought provoking and will stay with me for a long time." Read more
"...This is a book which covers an emotive and difficult subject with sensitivity and compassion. Overall, it's a story of love and hope...." Read more
Customers find the book's writing quality good. They describe it as a chilling yet beautifully written account of a woman's struggle with early onset Alzheimer's disease. The novel is written in first-person from the perspective of the sufferer, making it easy for readers to follow. Readers appreciate the author's natural and descriptive writing style, finding even the medical explanations easy to understand.
"...The novel is written in first-person from the perspective of the sufferer which makes it all the more relatable and insightful...." Read more
"...It takes you on that roller coaster journey through the dawning of a problem through its progression and with heart-rending inevitability...." Read more
"...The first thing that blew me away was the list of acknowledgements from the author...." Read more
"...Lisa Genova writes beautifully, her research seems to me impeccable but the book certainly does not come across as a scientific thesis wrapped up..." Read more
Customers find the book emotional, heartbreaking, and funny. They describe it as sensitively written without being sentimental. The story is relatable, thought-provoking, and evokes empathy and sympathy.
"...from the perspective of the sufferer which makes it all the more relatable and insightful...." Read more
"...Lisa Genova shows good and bad experiences alongside a genuine struggle of trying to deal with an ever changing condition...." Read more
"...Overall, it's a story of love and hope. It's about people being positive in the face of overwhelming odds. I really do urge you to read it." Read more
"...of chapters I was used to this and discovered what was a beautiful, sad, poignant story of a woman's descent into Alzheimers...." Read more
Customers find the story engaging and moving. They appreciate the author's storytelling style and how it brings positivity to the story. The events are narrated well, and the ending is delightful. While told in third-person, the story resonates with readers from the start.
"...All in all, Still Alice is well worth a read – as a good story, as a book that will make you both laugh and cry and as a challenging insight into..." Read more
"I saw the film that was made from this book and found it deeply affecting. Many people said that the book was even better so I had to read it...." Read more
"...skilfully takes the reader into Alice's world and she narrates the events so well that it's as if she's giving an account of her real life...." Read more
"...I was used to this and discovered what was a beautiful, sad, poignant story of a woman's descent into Alzheimers...." Read more
Customers find the book realistic and well-written. They appreciate the truthful narration and authenticity. The characters are explained realistically, capturing more detail than in the film.
"...This is a very well written novel with a lot of research to make it feel very real...." Read more
"...'s medical knowledge and research background adds real authenticity to this page turner...." Read more
"...this unique novel, I consider this work to be a wonderful celebration of the complexities and the brilliance of the human mind...." Read more
"...I can get like that when very tired and stressed, they were explained very realistically...." Read more
Customers have different views on the book. Some find it thought-provoking and gripping, while others find it frightening and unsettling. The account is described as believable and informative.
"...We see the destructive reality of the disease and its fateful nature – having the relevant gene guarantees having the disease; a disease with no cure..." Read more
"A terrifying account of a highly intelligent woman's descent into early onset Alzheimers...." Read more
"...Dementia is an awful disease, where sanity is as frightening as madness...." Read more
"A thought-provoking and somewhat unsettling account of a relatively young woman's descent into Alzheimer's...." Read more
Customers have mixed reviews about the book's pacing. Some found it well-paced and engaging, holding their attention from beginning to end. Others felt it was repetitive at times and lacking in pace and plot development.
"...These and other occurences are related in such an understated, natural way that you, the reader, are chomping at the bit to speak for Alice yet all..." Read more
"...and thought the central character was well-drawn though not entirely convincing...." Read more
"...and I found her description of the disease and its progression totally convincing. She is a good story teller too...." Read more
"...All in all I found it a good, quick read and an interesting topic." Read more
Top reviews from United Kingdom
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2016Still Alice – Lisa Genova
I found it hard to put this book down; Still Alice is at once a compelling piece of fiction and a moving portrayal of a woman living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. It was originally a self-published novel and has had extraordinary success. Recommended by the Alzheimer’s Association and now a critically-acclaimed film starring Julianne Moore, Still Alice portrays a way of life that is usually left unheard.
The novel is written in first-person from the perspective of the sufferer which makes it all the more relatable and insightful. Alice is not an eighty-year-old stereotypical Alzheimer’s patient either, she is fifty years old and still in the heights of her career. The reader understands the world through Alice’s eyes – when she first realises she is having memory and orientation problems, to when she is diagnosed, to when she can no longer remember the names of her children. We see the good days and the bad days; we are confused when Alice sees a black hole in front of the door (which she later realises is only the doormat), we are frustrated when she can no longer go running alone and we are sad when her daughters are identified only as “the mother” and “the actress”. The narrative takes on her changing voice – at first, she has the precision of a University Psychology Professor but later on, words are generic and places become vague. For example, children in the park are “medium-sized” and she recognises her husband as: “the man who owned the house” who “was reading a book and drinking a drink”.
We witness Alice’s moments of breakdown and her consideration of suicide, as well as her joy when she manages to start a small group of other younger Alzheimer’s sufferers so they can support one another: “They laughed and cried over stories of lost keys, lost thoughts, and lost life dreams. Alice felt unedited and truly heard. She felt normal.” Towards the end, even being part of the group is a struggle. She loses connections with others but also with herself. Alice declares “I miss myself” when she realises she can no longer understand a book she once wrote: “This thick book with the shiny blue cover represented so much of what she used to be”.
We see the destructive reality of the disease and its fateful nature – having the relevant gene guarantees having the disease; a disease with no cure. Alice articulates this one-sided battle: “This disease will not be bargained with. I can’t offer it the names of the United States presidents in exchange for my children. I can’t give it the names of the state capitals and keep the memories of my husband”. She is powerless to Alzheimer’s but she resists its power to make her life meaningless - Alice is worthy of admiration. She can laugh at herself when she make ridiculous mistakes, she can speak at a conference, she can organise a support group. She also accepts her diagnosis, more so than her husband who for a long time looks for a second opinion, an alternative or a cure.
Towards the end of the novel, Alice can no longer do her job, recognize her friends, find her way home or keep track of conversations. Yet, as she movingly points out in her speech at the Annual Dementia Care Conference, this does not mean that her life does not matter: “My yesterdays are disappearing, and my tomorrows are uncertain, so what do I live for? I live for each day. I live in the moment. Some tomorrow soon, I’ll forget that I stood before you and gave this speech. But just because I’ll forget it some tomorrow doesn’t mean I didn’t live every second of it today. I will forget today, but that doesn’t mean that today didn’t matter.”
This book forces us to revaluate what is important in life and not to take for granted the little comforts we have that usually go unnoticed – the ability to walk around the neighbourhood, to read a book, to plan ahead, to share memories with our families. It also draws attention to the flaws of her family and the reader’s own flaws. And we are reminded that memory is never infallible: “even biographies not saturated with disease were vulnerable to holes and distortions”.
All in all, Still Alice is well worth a read – as a good story, as a book that will make you both laugh and cry and as a challenging insight into the world of dementia from someone who is living with the disease and young enough to understand how this will change her life and the lives of her family.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 June 2012I finished this book a few days ago and have had to leave the review a little while until my thoughts about the book have distilled and settled.
It's a great book because it tackles Alzheimer's disease from the point of view of the sufferer. It takes you on that roller coaster journey through the dawning of a problem through its progression and with heart-rending inevitability.
I `enjoyed' Still Alice (perhaps enjoyed is not quite the right word) very much. I felt that Alice's husband's response to this devastating affect on their marriage was probably quite a realistic one for at least some faced with such catastrophic changes.
As an account of the disease, I have no idea how accurate this book is but I felt that it had probably been reserached well.
Purely as a novel, I was a little disappointed with the characters of the three children who I felt fell into rather too -neat slots and covered all possibilities without ever really letting the reader get to know them. They were vital to the story, rather than to the account of the disease, and it was a pity more time was not spent on them.
If it wasn't for the subject matter I would probably have given this three stars but because it brought into my mind so vividly the reality of this disease whose name is often used rather casually to encompass any weakening of memory and confusion in old age, it has to be four.
Alice thinks, at one point, she would rather it have been cancer because it is something she could at least fight. I had a personal experience with cancer many years ago and fought and I hope never to have to go through that again. It would not have seemed to me that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease would have been half so shattering - well, now I know differently.
author - The Palaver Tree
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2018I saw the film that was made from this book and found it deeply affecting. Many people said that the book was even better so I had to read it. I always think it is worth leaving some time after a film before reading the book to let some of the images fade - so that's what I did.
The first thing that blew me away was the list of acknowledgements from the author. She had a huge amount of help and was very generous in her recognition of that - amazing!!
This is a very well written novel with a lot of research to make it feel very real. The reader is encouraged to understand how Alice feels before she gets her diagnosis. We then empathise with her way of dealing with the Alzheimer's and its effect on everyone around her.
I'm the same age as Alice and could especially relate to the devastation in her life. I'm not convinced I would have done handled the problems in the same way as Alice but I could understand her approach (that is down to the great writing). Watching her gradually declining made me think deeply about myself and my friends that could suffer from this disease.
The dated chapters work well as it serves to put the progression of the disease into context. I also got an appreciation of the inconsistent pace of the changes - some problems happening very quickly whilst others crept in.
It felt a privilege to be allowed so far into Alice's thoughts - which is weird as this is a novel. Lisa Genova shows good and bad experiences alongside a genuine struggle of trying to deal with an ever changing condition.
Much of the book is thought provoking and will stay with me for a long time.
Top reviews from other countries
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AssenettReviewed in Mexico on 24 January 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente tiempo de entrega
Llegó antes de lo esperado y en perfecto estado. El tamaño del libro es cómodo para viaje y llevar en la bolsa
La historia está narrada de una manera muy hermosa en la que vives con el personaje principal su batalla perdida contra el Alzheimer a temprana edad.
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HURRICANEReviewed in Italy on 29 April 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Meraviglioso come il film ❤️‼️
Ho acquistato il libro dopo aver visto per ben tre volte il film che è tratto da una storia vera ed è veramente splendido, tragico, ma è un messaggio di grande coraggio per chi è colpito da questa terribile malattia. il libro ha soddisfatto pienamente le mie aspettative e lo consiglio vivamente,!!
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Christine C.Reviewed in France on 21 September 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Très bien écrit
Belle histoire sur la maladie d’alzheimer télé desarroi qu’elle provoque
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Verónica de SardiReviewed in Spain on 5 June 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Buena lectura
Este libro me ha encantado, cómo la autora trata de plasmar desde diferentes puntos de vista la enfermedad del Alzheimer. Y lo más importante, cómo lo plasma desde el punto de vista de la protagonista.
- Nilu AsadReviewed in India on 4 June 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to Lisa Genova!
After reading this book, one can never look at Alzheimer's the same way again. Alice's story scared me a lot. I lived her story along with her, cried when she did and smiled at her accomplishments. Sometimes, I did feel that the plot was too lengthy with medical descriptions and all but still was captivated by Alice's plight. At the same time, I felt for John, who loved his wife so much that I could understand why he didn't want to deal with it. It's hard to think how he must have felt. This book definitely had a big impact on me. The film was not as good as the book but decent to watch. This book is unputdownable. Definitely must read and an interesting one too. Hope they find a cure for Alzheimer's soon.
Nilu AsadKudos to Lisa Genova!
Reviewed in India on 4 June 2017
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